Norman Finkelstein on Gaza: The US could have stopped Israel on day one | UpFront

Al Jazeera English25 minutes read

The text discusses Israel's brutal war on Gaza, including accusations of genocide, and the potential shift in Western support for Israel. Prominent scholar Norman Finkelstein reflects on the slow progress of international law in addressing conflicts like Gaza, finding hope in the activism of young people despite widespread devastation and thousands dead.

Insights

  • Norman Finkelstein's personal background as the child of Holocaust survivors and his staunch political views rooted in that history heavily influence his advocacy for Palestinian freedom.
  • The conflict in Gaza, detailed through deliberate targeting of vulnerable populations and historical comparisons to concentration camps, highlights the brutal reality of Israel's actions and the failure of diplomatic efforts to bring about meaningful change.

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Recent questions

  • What is the conflict in Gaza about?

    The conflict involves Israel's actions in Gaza.

  • Who is Norman Finkelstein?

    Norman Finkelstein is a prominent scholar on Israel-Palestine.

  • What is the international community's response to Gaza?

    The international community has shown concern for Gaza.

  • How has history influenced Norman Finkelstein's views?

    Finkelstein's views are influenced by his parents' experiences.

  • What are the goals of Israel in Gaza?

    Israel's goals in Gaza range from ethnic cleansing to restoring deterrence capability.

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Summary

00:00

Israel-Gaza Conflict: Scholar's Controversial Advocacy

  • Israel is engaged in a brutal war on Gaza, facing accusations of genocide at the international court of justice.
  • A discussion on the potential shift in Western support for Israel and the future of Gaza and Palestine.
  • Interview with Norman Finkelstein, a prominent scholar on Israel-Palestine, who has advocated for Palestinian freedom for decades.
  • Finkelstein's parents were Holocaust survivors, influencing his political upbringing and views.
  • Finkelstein's parents were staunch Stalinists due to their perspective shaped by the Nazi Holocaust.
  • Finkelstein's childhood experiences and political upbringing led to his early advocacy for political causes.
  • Finkelstein's controversial reputation stems from his relentless and well-documented arguments in ideological debates.
  • Finkelstein reflects on the slow progress of international law in addressing conflicts like the one in Gaza.
  • Despite frustrations with the legal process, Finkelstein finds hope in the activism and solidarity of young people advocating for Gaza.
  • Finkelstein's historical comparisons of Gaza to a concentration camp and Hamas's actions to Nat Turner's rebellion are rooted in his belief in their truth and relevance to the current situation.

18:15

"Israel's Targeting of Gaza's Vulnerable Population"

  • An investigative body produced a 250-page report detailing Israel's deliberate targeting of children, medics, journalists, and disabled individuals.
  • Specific instances of deliberate targeting included shooting a person on crutches and a person in a wheelchair from a distance.
  • Nonviolent civil resistance failed in Gaza due to the lack of international reaction to the violence inflicted by Israel.
  • Diplomatic efforts and nonviolent resistance by Hamas did not succeed in resolving the conflict.
  • The potential deal between Israel and the Saudis threatened to resolve the conflict without considering the people of Gaza.
  • Despite critics suggesting hope, the situation in Gaza resulted in thousands dead, schools destroyed, and widespread devastation.
  • Various historical examples, like Nat Turner and John Brown, were used to illustrate the unpredictability of political actions and their long-term impacts.
  • Israel's ultimate endgame in Gaza ranged from ethnic cleansing to making Gaza uninhabitable, with the goal of restoring their deterrence capability in the Arab world.
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